Lake governments pool resources to save money on fuel

TAVARES -- Lake County governments have banded together to save money on fuel costs.

"Shame on us that it took so long," said Mount Dora Mayor Melissa DeMarco, who thinks Lake governments ought to search for other pooling opportunities to maximize savings and services.

Lake commissioners Tuesday approved a fuel contract that also will benefit Lake County Schools and a coalition of Lake cities and towns, including Clermont, Eustis, Leesburg and Mount Dora.

The collective governments received better prices from competing fuel providers by consolidating purchasing power and buying in bulk, said Barnett Schwartzman, director of the county's procurement-services department.

County Manager Cindy Hall predicted the savings would be significant as the group received lower-priced bids for a variety of octane gasoline, diesel and other fuels.